Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said concerns about cost killed earlier efforts to renew a program for people exposed to radioactive waste. Hawley hopes a new compromise with a lower mandatory spending price tag will finally break through.

Venice, Madison and Granite City have ties to World War II-era production of radioactive materials used by the U.S. Atomic Weapons Commission — just like St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri.

An amendment to the annual defense spending bill fell along party lines in the House Rules Committee. The legislation would have added Missouri ZIP codes to the RECA program.

Speaker Mike Johnson says after consulting with U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, Republican leadership has decided not to hold a vote on a bill that would renew the program without adding new states.

Sen. Josh Hawley, Rep. Ann Wagner, and Rep. Cori Bush vow to fight against a bill to renew the program set to expire June 10 if Missouri is excluded.

Critics say the Radiation Exposure Compensation Fund is too expensive and should be winding down, and it’s not clear if the House will act before the looming deadline.

Veterans who helped test nuclear weapons are fighting to renew a 34-year-old law meant to help compensate for the long-term health effects of their work.

If Congress does not pass the funding, it will expire in June. It does not currently include the St. Louis region, but would in a version passed by the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said the House needs to stop “screwing around” and pass his bill expanding the program to the St. Louis area.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act cleared its first major legislative hurdle on Thursday. It would provide compensation to sick St. Louisans living in areas with radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project.